A few days ago, I had the pleasure of interviewing President Bush about his budget plan, which he unveiled last Monday. My goal in this conversation was to learn from the president his aims for the country and the fiscal methods he would take to realize these aims. Here is the complete transcript of our discussion (and, of course -- by "interview," I mean to say that I asked questions and filled in the answers with Mr. Bush's words from various speeches and interviews he has given in the past. In other words, these answers, while all true and directly from Mr. Bush's lips, have been taken out of context. Not really a big deal.)
Me: Mr. President, let me just tell you that it's wonderful to be here talking with you, and that I appreciate your taking time out of your busy schedule to meet with me today.
President Bush: I thank you for your invitation to speak here tonight (2/27/01, speech to Congress).
Me: My pleasure. Now, I just have a couple comments to make about your budget proposal before I move on to asking you a few questions. First, I would just like to commend you on your decision to keep your promise to increase education and medical research spending. Rarely is it that a Bush keeps his promises " I think keeping promises is a good thing to do for America.
President Bush: It's the right thing to do for America (2/28/01 speech).
Me: I absolutely agree. What's that saying you have about education?
President Bush: You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test (2/21/01 speech).
Me: Right. My first question concerns your proposed tax cut and how it has forced you to cut out important government programs in your budget. While spending will go up for education and medical research under your plan, spending to preserve our environment will drop greatly. Don't you think it's important to save the environment? What if pollution gets out of control?
President Bush: Life goes on. My wife and my daughters still love me. Our military still protects our shores. Americans still get up and go to work. People still go out and have fun (3/29/01 speech).
Me: So you're saying you don't really care about the environment? No wonder Texas is the most polluted state in the country. And no wonder you propose to fix our energy crisis by drilling in forests and paying for oil, gas, and coal exploration while cutting funds for researching clean fuels and energy efficient appliances.
President Bush: We need significant tax relief and we need it now. I don't think there's any excuse for not providing real, meaningful tax relief (4/5/01 speech).
Me: So environmental programs are an "excuse for not providing tax relief?" The same tax "relief" that is unfairly biased towards the rich and proportionally gives little to middle-class families? Are you insane?
President Bush: Yes (3/9/01, interview with The Washington Post).
Me: Oh. That explains the cuts in environmental spending. But why have you chosen to abandon the thousands of farming families in the Midwest who will lose millions in federal funds because you want to reduce funding to the agriculture department?
President Bush: I truly believe it's the right thing to do (3/9/01, interview with The Washington Post).
Me: But mid-western farmers were some of your staunchest supporters in last year's election. Aren't you letting them down, won't you lose their support?
President Bush: No one vote is decisive (4/5/01 speech)
Me: But mid-western farmers have thousands of votes.
President Bush: I've coined new words, like "mis-understated" and "Hispanically" (3/29/01 speech).
Me: I see. So you think that is going to make up for the fact you are proposing a budget plan that hurts thousands of farmers in the Midwest?
President Bush: I know it is (3/9/01, interview with The Washington Post).
Me: Okay. Now what about your fight with Congress right now? It seems that Republicans and Democrats in the Senate are working together to combat the stupid parts of your budget plan, while you are working against both groups. What do you think about this?
President Bush: It's a very good question (3/9/01, interview with The Washington Post).
Me: Would you care to answer it?
President Bush: I urge the senators, when they cast the vote to remember there's a lot of people in our country who are beginning to hurt (4/5/01 speech).
Me: Some of these senators would say that it's your budget and tax plans that are going to hurt the people in our country. These people say that because your plans cut funding for efficient forms of mass transportation in cities and for the preservation of our environment they don't provide enough money for the elderly to afford prescription drugs. This cut is very risky because it relies heavily on the prediction that our economy will be strong and that we will continue to have big surpluses as we did during Clinton's last term. How do you respond?
President Bush: I want to love my neighbor. I want to make somebody's life just a little bit better (2/11/01 speech).
Me: That's very admirable, but it doesn't answer the question. Any final comments before I let you leave?
President Bush: It's the right thing to do (2/27/00, interview with PBS).
Me: What is? By the way, do you find it strange that your reasoning for doing anything is: "It's the right thing to do?" Why do you do that?
President Bush: Because I stand for doing what's the right thing (10/31/00 speech).
Me: Of course.
